X-ray cassette



March 20, 1945.

F. T. POWERS X-RAY CASSETTE Filed May 4, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEYS Patented Mar. 20, 1945 w ei.wfi.* I X-RAY CASSETTE Frank tas ers, Gjlen cave, N, r. Application Maw, is ls srial tease-r claims.

The present lfivi'ltldh remtes to new and useful improvements x-ray cassettes. a 1

' The accompanying drawings,- referred to here'- in and constituting a part hereof, 'illiistrateem bodimfents'of the invention, and together with i the description, serve to explain the principles tithe-invention; 4

9f thedrawings: v i Fig' l is a View in perspective ofasingle sheet panama 'v'acii'u'm cassette embodying the present invention: i v

tig'ht. suction chambeh'by suitable flexible sea ling meansp'e'rmitting access to the chamber for the Fig. 2 is a view in section taken along the line 2 2 of Fig. i;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a view in rear-elevation of a modified form or cassette embodying this invention; with parts broken away better to show certain details of construction; and,

The present invention has 'for its object the :prov'is'i o'n of a novel and improved X-ray' 'cas-' Fig. 5 is a fragmentar view in section taken along the line 55 of Fig. 4.

material and screens.

"pan'ying drawings, there is illustrated.- in Figs. 1

-to'3 an embodiment of theinvention particularly adapted for single-exposures and useful in maintaining intimate contact between the sheet of sensitive material and intensifying screens where theyere to be flexed into intimate adjacency -with respect to a curved object or surface to be 'sette in whiohthe X-ray sensitive material is held in intimate contact with one or two intensi- Tying screens bysuction applied to the interior of the cassette. Still another object of the inven' tion is the provision of a portable, relatively light weight cassette which insures intimate contact "of the sensitive material with the intensifying screen.- A flexible eassette is also provided *by the invention so that, for certain speeial applications, the sensitive material may be held in intimate contact with the intensifying screen and the two maybe curved, or otherwise flexed, to" conform them to the general contour of the obj'eet X-rayed, thereby providing closer'positiohin; of the sensitive material with respect 'toth'e 'obi'eet and producing sharper image's.

In accordance with the illustrative emboidi merits Of the present invention, there is provided I as a pair of wall members adapted to receive'between them the sheet or area of sensitive material to be exposed, with one or two intensify;- ing screens positioned in intimate contact; with the sensitized surfaces of the sensitive material. The wall members, of which at least one is headble and transparent to fX-radiation, are both to light anti "are-sealingi 'pohndtefi at As embodied, thereare provided two thin fiexi ble sheets or wallmembers 90, 9| of Bakelite, transparent to X-radiation, and which may be opaque to light and' are somewhat larger than the sheet'of sensitive material and intensifying screens to be exposed These sheets are normal- 1y s'paced'a sufilcient distanceto receive between them-a'lighttightenve1ope 92 containing a sheet 93 of double'c'oated X-ray film, with an intensify- 'ing screen -94 on-either side of the film. The light-tight envelope permits the cassette to be loaded'and unloaded in the light.

" The flexible'sheets and 9|) are normally spaced at their edges by means of a sealing strip ST Which is channeled to provide an air duct 98 having smaller apertures 99 leading to the space between the flexible sheets 90, 9|. The sealing strip is also provided with time 100 by which it may be cemented to the'ou'ter margins of the -iiex'ible sheets; 1 ,Along one edge of the cassette, "these'aling strip isslit to pro'vide a long normally theirmarginalportions,so es-totem an air-55' For i si ng suction totneeassett -anexnaust rial and intensifying screen, the advantage of portability and the advantage of durabilit under severe conditions of use.

As embodied, there is provided a thin flexible member H of Bakelite, transparent to X-radia-,

tion and somewhat larger than the sensitive material and intensifying screens to be exposed.

The member I Ill is sealed hermetically at its mare gin to a rigid frame II I preferably of metal having a continuous channel Il2,preferably.of U-n shape, within which the marginal portions of the member I ID are lodgedchannel I I2 is a filler member I I3 whichoverlies the flexible member 'HO and is preferably ce- Positioned, within the mented both to the member H0 and to the frame -III at the base of the channel II 2. The filler member H3 outlines a Well H4 for the reception of a sheet H5 of X-ray sensitive material and one or more intensifying screens, such as the intensifying screen H6 shown. a

A rigid support member I I'I is removably lodged within the well H4 in sealing engagement with the filler member I I3 and to this end is provided with a flexible sealing strip 1 i8 of soft rubber, leather, or other suitable material lodged in a marginal recess H9 extending continuously around thefront face of the supportmember. The sealing strip II B-extends outwardly from the support member III a distancesufiicient for it tolie substantially snugly against the compartment face of the filler member when the support member is in position within thewell H4. 7

The support member I I! may be bodily removable from the well II4 but as here preferably embodied is hinged along one edge to the frame III by means of hinges I20 so that it may be swung out for insertion and removal of the sensitive material and intensifying screens. i

Means are provided for releasably locking the support member in its closed position. As here preferably embodied, resilient latch members I2I in suitable number, are positioned on the support member, preferably at equally spaced intervals and arepivotally secured midwa of their ends to the support member as by means of screws I22. Thelatch members are suitably curved upwardly from the support member and at.their ends are lodged within the channel H2 in firm engagement with the frame I II. The number of latch members required and the magnitude of the pressure each is to exert against the support member will depend upon the size of the cassette.

As a measure of these requirements, however, suitable results have been obtained when employing 14" x 17 sheets of sensitive material, through the provisionof three latch members exerting a pressure of approximately -7 pounds per square inch at each of the six points of engagement with the frame III. v v

In order to apply suction to the space between the support member I I1 and the flexible window member III], a passage I23 is provided between the well H4 and the outside of the cassette, the passage extending through the filler member I I3 and the frame III. tapered, is lodged-preferably removably, within the passage and may be connected, as by means A tube I 24 which may be of a rubber hose (not shown), to a suitable suction device (not shown).

Thus, it will be apparent that upon the application of suction through the tube I24, the flexible member I ID will be forcibly and evenly pressed toward the support member H'I so as to press the sensitive material H5 into intimate contact with the intensifying screen I I 6 over the entire area.

This application is a continuation-in-part of my application No. 428,994, now Patent 2,321,156, granted June 8, 1943.

v The invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specific mechanisms shown and described but departures may be made therefrom ,within the scope of the accompanying claims Without departing from the principles of the invention and without sacrificing its chief advantages.

What is claimed is:

1; A portable X-ray cassette including in combination a pair of sheets of light opaque material one of which is transparent to X-radiation, means for holding said sheets in coextensive relation to receive sensitive material and an intensifying screen between them, and an air ductconnected with the space between the sheets for removing the air from between the sheets. V '2. An X-ray cassette including in combination a flexible sheet of light-opaque material transparent to X-radiation, a backing coextensive with the sheet and to which it is attached toreceive sensitive material and an intensifying screen between the sheet and backing, means for initially sealing the edges of the sheet to the backing, and an air duct connected to the space between thev sheet and backing and suction means for applying suction to the space to press the sheet towards its backing and to bring the sensitive ma,- terial and intensifying screen into intimate contact. I

3. An X-ray cassette including in combination a pair of sheets of light opaque material, one of which is transparent to X-radiation, means for sealing said sheets along their edges and for holding the sheets in assembled relationfat least one edge being separable for introducing a sheet of sensitive material and an intensifying screen between them, and an air duct connected with the space between the sheets for applying suction to said space to press the sheets, the sensitive material and the intensifying screen together.

4. An X-ray cassette including in combination a pair of flexible sheets of light opaque material,

one of which is transparent to X-radiation, means for sealing said sheets along their edges and for holding the sheets in assembled relation, at least one edge being separablevfor introducing a sheet of sensitive material and in intensifying screen between them, said sealing means comprising a strip surrounding the sheets, and 'extending bee tween their margins and formed with a continu ous duct communicating with an exhaust tube and provided with apertures leading from the duct to the space between the sheets. I i 5; A portable X-ray cassette including in combinationa pair of wall members of light opaque material one of which is transparent to X-radiation, sealing means connecting said members along their marginal portions and separably along atleast one of said portions soas to provide an air-tight suction chamber therebetween to receive sensitive material andan intensifying screen, and a suction duct communicatingwith said chamber. 6. A portable 'X-ray cassetteincluding in com;

' transparent to X-radiation, flexible sealing means connecting said members along their marginal portions and separably along at least one of said portions so as to provide an air-tight suction chamber therebetween to receive sensitive ma-' terial and an intensifying screen, and a suction duct communicating with said chamber.

8. A portable X-ray cassette including in combination a pair of wall members of light opaque material at least one of which is flexible and transparent to X-radiation, sealing means connecting said members along their marginal por tions so as to provide an air-tight suction chamber therebetween to receive sensitive material and an intensifying screen, said sealing means comprising a flexible member separably connecting said members along at least one of said portions.

and a suction duct communicating with said chamber.

9. A portable X-ray cassette including in combination a flexible member and a rigid support ceive sensitive material and an intensifying screen, said sealing means comprising a rigid frame marginally masking said flexible member, a rigid strip member overlying the marginally masked portion of said flexible member and a flexible sealing strip carried by said rigid support member and slidably engaging said strip member, v

and a suction duct communicating with said chamber.

11. A portable X-ray cassette including in combination a flexible member which is opaque to light and transparent to X-radiation, means forming a well with said flexible member to contain sensitive material and an intensifying screen, a rigid support member removably positioned in said well,- means sealing the space between said support member and. said well forming means so as to form an air-tight suction chamber, means for releasably securing said rigid support member in said well, and an air eduction passage leading from said chamber.

v 12. A portable X-ray cassette in accordance with claim 11, said sealing means being anchored member of light opaque material, said flexible member being transparent to X-radiation, sealing means separably connecting said members along their marginal edges so as to provide a suction chamber therebetween adapted to receive sensitive material and an intensifying screen, and a suction duct communicating with said chamber.

10 A portable X-ray cassette including in combination a flexible member and a rigid support member, said flexible member being transparent to X-radiation, sealing means separably connecting said members along their marginal edges so as to provide a suction chamber therebetween to reto said rigid support member.

13. A portable X-ray cassette in accordance with claim 11, said rigid support member being resilient latch members carried by said rigid support member for releasable engagement with said well-forming means.

15. A portable X-ray cassette including, in

combination, a flexible member which is opaque to light and transparent to X-radiation, said member being provided with a continuous outstanding rigid margin having an air duct, support members removably positioned within the confines of said margin, means for sealing the space between said support members and said margin so as to form'an air-tight suction chamber between said flexible member and said support members, and an air eduction tube leading from said chamber.

FRANK T. POWERS. 

